Trump shooting: Timeline of assassination attempt raises questions about how gunman evaded security
A timeline of events from Saturday, July 13, when a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Trump at his rally in Butler, PA, until Monday, July 15.
On Saturday, July 13, an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, rocked the nation.
Authorities neutralized the assailant after shots rang out, and a federal investigation into the shooting targeting the former president ensued.
Here's a timeline of the events that have unfolded since Friday:
Trump walks up to his podium at the Butler Farm Show just after 6 p.m. and speaks to a crowd standing on all sides of him.
Minutes later, some rally attendees start pointing toward someone on a nearby rooftop with a rifle, according to witness accounts and video footage from the event.
A local law enforcement officer climbs onto the roof and sees Thomas Crooks with a rifle, sources told Fox News. Crooks points the gun at the officer, who falls back, a source said.
Less than 10 minutes after Trump begins speaking, gunfire rings out from the direction of the person on the rooftop.
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The former president holds a hand up to his ear and then ducks for cover. Secret Service agents surround him on stage.
Some attendees think the shots are fireworks or firecrackers; it takes a minute for everyone to register that they need to get down. One woman screams.
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Secret Service agents can be overheard working to target the shooter, using code names and firing off specific directions. The shooter is lying on a nearby rooftop, about 160 yards from where Trump is speaking, with an AR-15.
Agents quickly shoot the assailant, Crooks, killing him on the spot.
"Shooter's down," one agent says.
Unbeknownst to some in the crowd, one man — 50-year-old Corey Comperatore — is fatally shot while protecting his wife and daughters from gunfire. Two others, 57-yer-old David Dutch of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, are critically wounded.
Secret Service agents move Trump off stage and into a security vehicle. His motorcade prepares to drive out of the venue and to a nearby hospital.
Rally attendees begin to register what has happened and prepare to move out of the venue, some still unsure if the shooter is down or if others will be targeted. A sense of calm washes over the crowd, which remains relatively quiet and poised even as people are trying to exit the area.
Locals living around the event area who heard the gunfire begin to shelter in place or evacuate their homes, unaware if the gunfire was a mass-shooting incident or if the shooter or shooters are still in the area.
Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi releases an official statement saying an "incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania."
"The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available," the statement reads.
The Trump campaign releases a statement saying the former president "thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act"
"He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow," the statement reads.
Trump is hospitalized, and Donald Trump Jr. informs the media that his father is doing well.
Former President Obama releases a statement on X saying "[t]here is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy."
"Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery," Obama says.
President Biden issues a statement saying he has been briefed "on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania."
"I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information," Biden says. "Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
The Secret Service issues an updated statement saying a shooter "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue" around 6:15 p.m.
"U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased," the statement says. "U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation, and the Secret Service has notified the FBI."
Biden's campaign announces it will remove TV ads as quickly as possible after the assassination attempt against Trump.
The FBI announces that a team is traveling to Butler to conduct an assassination investigation.
Trump issues a statement for the first time since he was struck earlier in the evening, thanking the "United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania."
"Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured," Trump says. "It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
The Secret Service confirms one fatality and two others injured during the rally.
A White House official confirms to Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich that Biden has spoken to Trump, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy.
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"The President will depart Rehoboth Beach, Delaware en route to Dover Air Force Base," the White House says in a statement. "Then, the President will depart Dover Air Force Base en route to Joint Base Andrews...Later, the President will depart Joint Base Andrews en route to the White House."
A bomb squad investigates a suspicious vehicle near the scene of the assassination attempt in Butler.
Trump is seen for the first time since the shooting departing a plane early Sunday morning.
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The FBI officially identifies the shooter as Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about an hour from Butler, south of Pittsburgh.
Crooks is a registered Republican in Allegheny County and donated $15 to a Chicago-based Democratic PAC in 2021.
Biden delivers remarks following the assassination attempt.
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Trump tells The New York Post: "I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead."
"The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle," Trump also told the newspaper onboard his private plane while heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for this week’s Republican National Convention. "By luck or by God, many people are saying it’s by God I’m still here."
Biden speaks to the American public on Sunday evening from the Oval Office.
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"My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics," Biden says. "Do remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies. We’re neighbors, we’re friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together."
Biden adds that he is "grateful" that Trump is "doing well" and says he is keeping the former president "and his family in our prayers." He also extends his "deepest condolences" to Comperatore's family.
Sources confirm to Fox News that authorities found explosives, including an IED, inside a car driven by Crooks found parked near the scene of the rally on Saturday.
Secret Service holds a press briefing at Centennial Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ahead of the Republican National Convention.
A federal source familiar with security plans for Saturday's Trump rally in Butler tells Fox News that local law enforcement was tasked with overseeing the building where Crooks fired several shots at the former president.
The building Crooks fired from was a "rally point" for one of the local counter sniper teams, according to the source, who also pointed out that team was actually stationed in, or near, the building. There were four counter sniper teams at the rally — two from the Secret Service and two from local law enforcement.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle releases a statement extending her "deepest condolences to the family and friends of Corey Comperatore, who was killed during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, as well as those who were injured during this senseless act of violence."
"Secret Service personnel on the ground moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump," Cheatle says.
The FBI on Monday afternoon told Fox News' David Spunt that it has interviewed more than 100 law enforcement personnel, event attendees, and other witnesses.
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"The FBI continues to investigate the shooting incident at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and as potential domestic terrorism," the agency said. "The investigation is still in the early stages and the FBI is providing the following updates: FBI technical specialists successfully gained access to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ phone, and they continue to analyze his electronic devices. The search of the subject's residence and vehicle are complete."
The FBI is asking anyone with information about the assassination attempt against Trump to send tips to FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Their investigation remains active and ongoing.
Fox News' Jake Gibson, David Spunt, Greg Norman, Anders Hagstrom and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
